Improvement in sheet-metal fruit-cans



STATEs PATENT OFFICE."

coLUMBUs F. STUBGIS, OFBU'BNA VISTA, ALABAMA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL FRUIT-CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 13,111, dated March 28, 1871.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, COLUMBUS F. STUR- GIS, of Buena Vista, in the county of Monroe and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Metal Fruit- Cans; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

Figure l is a side view of my improved fruit-can, partly in section to Show the construction, taken through the line a' x, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same, partly in section, through the line y y, Fig. 3, to show the construction. Fig. 3 is a top view of the same. Fig. et is the same view as Fig. 3, the Top plate and fastening being removed, and showing a modified form of the opening.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

My invention has for itsobject to furnish an improved fruit-can made in parts, so that it may be conveniently nested for transportation, and that the parts may be easily put together by the user of the can and which shall at the same time be cheaply and readily made, and without waste of the material; and it consists in the construction of the various parts of the can as hereinafter more fully described.

The can is made in two equal parts, A B, which are to be connected to each other at the middle of the can. The parts A B are rectangular in their cross-section, and slightly tapering from the connecting edges toward their other ends, which form the bottom and top of the can.

The sides of the parts A B, I prefer to make in one piece, bent to form the angles or corners, and with their edges seamed or joined to eaeh other at one angle or in the-middle of one side.

The top a and bottom b( of the can are formed of rectangular pieces, notched at their corners, and with their four 'side edges bent inward to lie along the sides of the parts A B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, where they are securely soldered in place.

In putting the ends a b into the parts A B a wooden block or former is used, upon the end of which the said ends are placed, and the body of the parts A B is slipped down over the former-block until the outer end of the surface is iiush, or nearly so, with the edges of the said parts A B. This construction leaves a groove to receive the solder by which the ends are secured in place.

I prefer to allow the edges of the lower part, B, to project a little beyond the bottom or end b', so that the can will stand upon said edges, and said bottom or end will not be in contact with the surface upon which thecan stands.

The edges of three sides of one of the parts, as B, ofthe can are turned outward, as shown iu Figs. I and 2, to form iianges, and the edges of three of the sides of the other part, as A, are turned outward and'then inward, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to form grooves to re ceive the edges or a-nges of the other part, so that the two parts may be conveniently slipped together.

The edges ot' the fourth sides of the parts A B may be straight, so as to overlap each other; or the edge of the one part, as B, may be bent inward to form a flange, and the edge of the other part, as A, may be bent inward and outward to form a groovel to receive said flange,

,so that when the two parts are slid together the edges of all four sides of the two parts may be interlocked.

The interloeked edges of the two parts may be closed down upon each other with a hammer, and the seams sealed with Shellae, varnish, cement, or other suitable material.

In the top end, a', of the can is formed an opening for the introduction of the fruit or other substance. This opening may be formed by cutting out a piece, as shown in Figs. l and 2, or by cutting cross-slits in the end af, as shown in Fig. 4, forming angular iiaps, which may be turned up to receive the fruit and then turned down again into place. The opening, however formed, is covered with a cap, C, f1ttin g closely upon the top or end a', and sealed with shellac, varnish, cement, or other suitable material.

The cap G may be still further secured in place by a key, D, passed across it and at their edges by zmge and groove, comthrough keepers attached to the top or end a', billed, as described, with corner-notched top as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. and bottom a b', for the purpose specified.

Having thus described my invention, I COLUMBUS F. STURGIS.

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Witnesses:

Patent- J. J. FINKLEA,

Two rectangular sections, A B, interlocked H. H. STURGIS. 

